All stations will carry Hirono-Lingle debate

Advertiser Staff

A one-hour debate between gubernatorial candidates Mazie Hirono and Linda Lingle will be aired live Oct. 25 on all five local television stations.

The debate, at the Hawai'i Public Television studio, will be simulcast live on KHET public television, KHON, KITV, KGMB and KHNL from 7 to 8 p.m.

It will be the first time all local television stations in Hawai'i will air the same debate live.

The Hawai'i gubernatorial race is only the second time in the United States that two women have run against each other as major candidates for governor. The first was in 1986 in Nebraska.

"Both Mazie Hirono and Linda Lingle have the chance to take their messages directly to a tremendous number of voters and those voters can hear for themselves what the candidates have to say," said Mike McCartney, KHET president.

Former CBS and CNN reporter Linda Taira will moderate. Taira, who also worked in Honolulu, is the vice president of station relations at the national Public Broadcasting Service.

Debate panelists are Gregg Takayama of KHON, Jade Moon of KGMB, Darren Pai of KHNL and Daryl Huff of KITV. Representatives from the League of Women Voters will take questions for the candidates from the public via the telephone and e-mail.